Cascade Christian passes test against Harrisburg

Cascade Christian head coach Brian Morse hoped to simulate a boys basketball state tournament situation this weekend by hosting Harrisburg one night after his Challengers faced St. Mary's.

Cascade Christian head coach Brian Morse hoped to simulate a boys basketball state tournament situation this weekend by hosting Harrisburg one night after his Challengers faced St. Mary's.

Had fifth-ranked Cascade Christian actually been in a tournament, it would still be alive.

Less than 24 hours after downing the Crusaders, Cascade Christian found the energy to top the No. 7 Eagles, 64-52, in a nonconference game Saturday.

"We talked about that last night after a big emotional win on Friday," Morse said. "Playing a back-to-back, winning the opening round and now playing in a semifinal game."

Senior forward Troy Thompson and senior guard Alex Miller led the way with 18 points apiece for the Challengers (16-5), who entered the fourth quarter with a two-point edge before going on a 22-12 run.

Thompson knocked down all seven of his field-goal attempts and added seven rebounds.

"He's kind of my hustle guy who does everything," Morse said.

Miller, who added five assists, helped the Challengers early and late: he scored eight points on perfect shooting in the first quarter and later sank all eight of his free-throw attempts in the fourth.

Cascade Christian was 14 of 16 from the charity stripe in the final frame.

With the game tied at 45, Haugen missed the first of two-free shots but connected on the second.

Ashton Petray had nine points, nine rebounds and three steals and Kaeli Scott added eight points and seven rebounds for the Red Tail Hawks (5-15, 3-9 MVL), who trailed 8-3 after the first quarter but used a 19-8 run in the third to capture the lead.

Simms won the 50-yard freestyle and 100 backstroke and was part of three winning Grizzly relays as Ashland scored 126 points. Senior Alex Sukles won the 200 free for Ashland and also swam on the three relays.

Crater's Ben Briesmeister prevented Ashland from sweeping all the boys events with victories in the 200 individual medley and 100 butterfly.

In girls, Ashland scored 120 points.

Lawson captured the 50 and 100 free in addition to swimming the anchor leg on the winning 200 free relay.